As anyone who follows my Classic Coming Attractions column regularly will know, I do occasionally include reviews of British TV series there. They don't really fit that column so I've decided to start up The British Beat as a vehicle more appropriate to such material. This column will be a little more wide-ranging than TV series reviews, though. I'll include coverage of classic and recent movies that are quintessentially British - the Red Riding Blu-ray review in this first edition of the column is a good example. I'll also try to alert you to forthcoming British titles that seem worthy of your attention. The column will appear irregularly, at least to start, and its focus will be on North American releases.

In addition to the Red Riding Blu-ray (from MPI) mentioned above, this inaugural edition of The British Beat includes reviews of the Blu-ray of Bridget Jones's Diary (from Alliance Canada) and the DVD releases of A Cold War Spy Collection (The Glory Boys/The Contract); Murphy's Law: Series Two; A Bit of a Do; Wartime Britain: Three Complete Dramas; and Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (all from Acorn Media); as well as Secret Agent AKA Danger Man: The Complete Collection (from A&E).

Blu-ray Reviews

Between 1999 and 2002, British author David Peace wrote the "Red Riding Quartet" consisting of four novels "Nineteen Seventy-Four", "Nineteen Seventy-Seven", "Nineteen Eighty", and "Nineteen Eighty-Three".

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It deals with police investigation, police corruption, and investigative journalism concerning a series of child abductions and serial murders set in Yorkshire during the 1970s and 80s, based to some degree on real events. In 2009, the novels were adapted for the screen in the form of three films - 1974, 1980, and 1983. 1974 was directed by Julian Jarrold in 16mm (1.85:1); 1980 by James Marsh in 35mm (1.85:1); and 1983 by Anand Tucker on digital video (2.35:1). They were released briefly theatrically in Britain before being shown on British TV (Channel Four). MPI has now made them available on Blu-ray in a two-disc SE under the title Red Riding. In 1974 we are introduced to the series of childhood abductions and the work of a young reporter who tries to investigate the linkages between them. In 1980, the subject of the Yorkshire Ripper is added to the mix and the failure of the Yorkshire police to make any progress results in an outside team from Manchester being brought in to take over the case as well as consider the issue of police corruption. In both films, things end badly for the chief investigators. 1983 offers resolution when one of the Yorkshire police takes it upon himself to crack open the case when he becomes disgusted with his own prior role in it. Collectively, this is a superb series of films that rivets one to the screen. I watched the whole trilogy in a single sitting. Each film builds on the previous one and events and meetings that may have seemed unclear when first viewed click into significance as a result of revelations in the later films. Subsequent viewings of the trilogy are certainty worthwhile just to connect all the dots more clearly, but one does have a good overall appreciation for what has been going on after the first viewing. The subject matter is dark and the films do not shy away from that darkness, each offering a fair dose of graphic violence although often concentrating on the results of such violence rather than showing it actually happening. The cast is a mix of lesser-known faces and well-established ones (David Morrissey, Sean Bean, Warren Clarke) that impresses throughout. Despite the different directors and shooting media, the films generate quite a unified gritty look and mood of despair and anger over the 5+ hours running time. MPI's Blu-ray presentation delivers the three films on a single disc, with each film looking successively clearer and more detailed as one might anticipate from the shooting media. The Blu-ray appears to replicate the intended look of the trilogy accurately, but the only transfer that offers the feel and depth of a really good high definition one is that of 1983. The others seem little different from what one might expect of a very good DVD. The audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 which sounds clear throughout except for a few instances where the local accents can be difficult to decipher. There's little evidence of separation and only minimal use of the surrounds for ambience. A stereo track is also offered, but any differences between it and the 5.1 mix are subtle indeed. The release contains a second disc for the supplements. It's a standard DVD that contains making-of featurettes for 1980 and 1983, an interview with the director of 1974 (Julian Jarrold), deleted scenes and TV spots for each of the three titles, and a theatrical trailer for the trilogy as a whole. Highly recommended.

Bridget Jones's Diary is a 2001 film from the makers of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. Based on Helen Fielding's novel (which itself draws liberally from the plot of "Pride and Prejudice"), it's a richly comedic take on the romantic comedy, one that seems fresh due to its London setting and likable performances from its three leads.

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Renee Zellweger, sporting an convincing and quite consistent English accent, stars as the title character - a 30-something single career woman unlucky in love and seeing herself increasingly consigned to nights alone in front of the telly as she eats and smokes her way to unhealthiness. She decides to turn over a new leaf and write a diary chronicling her progress and soon finds herself with two potential beaus. One is her boss (Hugh Grant) who's the charismatic charming type who seduces women and then tends to leave them for someone better or different. The other is a handsome but reserved and in Bridget's case disapproving barrister (Colin Firth). Anyone familiar with romantic comedy knows whom she's going to end up with, but it's the journey that easily holds the interest. Bridget is an attractive woman, but a bit of an endearing klutz who somehow manages ultimately to succeed even when she puts her foot in her mouth (or on the written page) as she's frequently wont to do. Her road to happiness is a rocky one, but for the viewer, rich in gently-amusing as well as laugh-out-loud incidents. Adapted by Fielding herself (along with Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis), the script sparkles, sounding right for the world and age of the characters. In addition to the appealing work of the three leads, Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones provide additional luster by their nicely-tuned performances as Bridget's parents. Alliance Canada's 2.35:1 Blu-ray presentation pretty much does right by the film. It doesn't offer the perception of depth of the best HD efforts, but it is very sharp for the most part. There are a few sequences that seem a little soft but they appear to reflect filmmakers' decisions rather than transfer issues. Fine level detail is very good and colour fidelity is right on. The DTS-HD Master Audio doesn't get a great workout, but dialogue is clear and robust and the few non-dialogue sequences (notably a fight between the Grant and Firth characters) do engage the surrounds noticeably. Supplements include audio commentary by director Sharon Maguire, five featurettes, deleted scenes, and the trailer for the film's sequel - Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Recommended.

TV DVD Reviews

Oh, Lord! Oh, heck! Tickety-boo! That fine 1989 British TV comedy, A Bit of a Do, is now available on DVD from Acorn Media.

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The program originated from writer David Nobbs who had great earlier success with The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (also available on DVD from Acorn). Here he adapts his own books and delivers a delicious slice of British life that offers both comedy and poignancy. The story is set in a fictional Yorkshire town where son Paul (David Thewlis) of the working class Simcocks (Ted and Rita, played by David Jason and Gwen Taylor) marries the daughter Jenny (Sarah-Jane Holm) of the middle class Rodenhursts (Laurence and Liz, played by Paul Chapman and Nicola Pagett). At the wedding reception following, Liz seduces Ted and their resulting affair affects the lives of every member of the two families, sometimes in surprising ways. The series extends over thirteen 50-minute episodes and each one is set at some sort of function, or "do", including other weddings, a Christmas party, club or society meetings, a civic function, and even a funeral. The first episode sets the series' strong comedic pedigree with the absurdity of the basic situation and the large assemblage of characters, many of which are quirky in that distinctively British TV manner. One wonders after that first episode if the momentum can be maintained particularly using the idea of a different "do" for each episode. One need not be concerned though, as things for the most part do not develop as one might expect and the strongly comedic aspect is tempered with dramatic events that provide the series with a measure of real-life groundedness that sustains it throughout its entire length. The performances are uniformly solid, particularly so those of David Jason (British Comedy Award for Best TV Comic actor), Gwen Taylor (BAFTA TV nomination for Best Actress), and Nicola Pagett. Stephanie Cole and Tim Wylton offer fine support as the Sillitoes, best friends of the Simcocks, providing solid comic inventiveness in their roles as chicken factory owners who become budding health food entrepreneurs. It is, though, Nobbs' carefully observed portrayals of people and situations that ultimately elevate the series well above the norm. The story arc is entirely satisfying, effectively skirting conventional ending expectations for such material. Acorn Media's DVD release presents the series on four discs. The image is full frame as originally telecast and is in quite decent shape. Its sharpness is slightly above average for British TV series of a comparable vintage. Colours may have faded slightly, but are still quite good. The stereo sound is robust enough, but never sounds much different than simple mono. Minor hiss is present, but not distracting. The supplements consist of innocuous 5-6 minute interviews with Nicola Pagett and David Nobbs (done for talk shows of the time) and selected filmographies for eight of the cast members. Highly recommended.

I had high hopes for Acorn Media's DVD release of Murphy's Law: Series 2 given the very positive feelings left by the release of Series 1 on DVD last year.

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Those hopes are only partially met, unfortunately. Jettisoned in the first episode of Series 2 is Murphy's superior officer, Annie Guthrie, with whom Murphy (James Nesbitt) was developing an interesting relationship in the first series. I don't know if it was an artistic decision or simply because the actress in question moved on, but whatever the reason, it leaves Murphy on his own too much, with no one to temper his at times obnoxiously smart-aleck character. Gone too are the 90-minute episodes that had room to develop character along with solid story lines. They've been replaced with 60-minute episodes, which at least haven't compromised story quality too much since the writing remains strong. Unfortunately, Acorn Media's DVD provides each episode in a condensed 50-minute version that does noticeably effect plot clarity for at least a couple of the episodes. The abridgement apparently occurred in Britain when packaging the episodes for export, but was also applied to the British domestic DVD release. The Series 1 episodes were fairly gritty tales, but those in Series 2 up the ante, with both the look of London and the action taking on a darker and more visceral cast. James Nesbitt remains superb in the title role as the Irish cop who goes undercover in each episode. In Series 2, he takes on a serial killer in the West End, investigates a drug squad in the police force, works with Interpol on a car-smuggling ring, tries to find out whether a biotech company is implicated in the death of a child, dawns the robes of a priest to investigate the deaths of two nuns, and must deal with a therapy group/vigilante force that tries to help those whose loved ones have been victims of crime. Most of the plots are fairly fresh, but even where familiarity creeps in, the Murphy character is sufficiently interesting and different to keep one involved. There are three more series still to be released on DVD in North America. They reportedly are better than the second season, so we have much to look forward to. Aside from the shortened episodes, Acorn's 1.78:1 anamorphic presentation is very good offering a crisp image and good reproduction of the series' subdued hues. The stereo sound is clear, but seems little different from a good mono track. Be warned that the disc defaults to the English subtitling for the hearing-impaired. The only supplement is a brief text biography for James Nesbitt. Recommended as a rental.

A good example illustrating that not all British TV is great is provided by one half of A Cold War Spy Collection. The release contains two stories by British author Gerald Seymour (The Glory Boys/The Contract), each of which he adapted into a 3-part TV series for ITV, in 1984 and 1988 respectively.

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The Glory Boys is the problem. It makes the mistake of importing two American actors to star - Anthony Perkins and Rod Steiger, and they couldn't look less interested. Steiger is an Israeli nuclear scientist with a gigantic pair of glasses who is in London to give a lecture. There, he's targeted for assassination by a joint Palestinian-IRA hit team. Perkins is a British agent (a world-weary type who seems pre-occupied with alcohol) tasked with protecting Steiger. Steiger conveys no energy whatsoever in his role, but the biggest disappointment is Perkins whose idea of world-weariness is an annoying smirk fixed behind a haze of cigarette smoke and alcohol. The Glory Boys has other issues though, including uninteresting and inept villains, and action sequences that are executed with little sense of suspense or precision. The story is poorly paced as well, with the final 50-minute part seeming like an anticlimax after its predecessor. Much better is The Contract, a thriller in which a former intelligence officer is called back into service to arrange the Soviets' leading missile designer's removal from East Germany to the West. The story is told in a typically low-key British manner and entirely convincing. That's partly due to an interesting twist to the story's familiar tale - the fact that the designer's son has defected before him and is being used by British Intelligence as a key to draw the designer's interest in defecting himself. There is also a comfort level in the lack of imported stars but the presence of many vaguely familiar British faces including a few well-known ones such as James Faulkner (The Bank Job, First Among Equals, Bridget Jones's Diary) and Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy). The film is well-paced under the direction of Ian Toynton (Cracker, 24) and builds effectively to the third part's satisfying conclusion. Each film is presented full frame as originally telecast and given a separate DVD and case, packaged in a cardboard slipcover by Acorn Media. The Contract looks fairly good in terms of sharpness and contrast. The image has a reasonable film-like look with some modest grain - overall a tad better than the typical British TV series of the time. Background image detail is inconsistent. On the other hand, The Glory Boys offers a rather soft-looking experience with video noise frequently intruding. Colours on both releases seem a little washed-out. The stereo audio on both is quite workable, with dialogue clarity never an issue. The few action sequences on both films have little dynamic heft to them. Each disc sports a text biography for author Gerald Seymour and selected filmographies for the lead cast members. Worth a rental for The Contract.

Island at War is the least rewarding of the three, mainly because it merely treads ground already better covered in the 1978 British series Enemy at the Door (first volume previously available from Acorn Media). The subject is World War II in the Channel Islands, represented by the fictional island of St. Gregory, with the story following the fortunes of three families. There are some good performances, not least that of Philip Glenister as the German commander, and the location photography (on the Isle of Wight) is impressive. The series' problems lie in its narrative structure - few of the various subplots are satisfactorily resolved and pacing is glacial at times. One almost feels also that the series was trying to be too politically correct in its fairness to the German side. Much, much better is Housewife, 49. It mines the diaries of real-life Lancashire housewife Nella Last (diaries that she wrote as part of the Mass Observation public project) to create a fascinating portrait of one aspect of wartime on the homefront. Victoria Wood (who also wrote the script) immerses herself in the role of Last, a woman fearful of coping with her son's enlistment and life alone with a withdrawn and domineering husband. The awakening sense of independence in Last brought about by her wartime volunteer work is truly inspiring and moving in Wood's hands. She receives solid support from David Threlfall as Last's husband - a performance of a domineering yet ultimately sad little man that has to be seen to be believed. Stephanie Cole also is solid as the head of the women's volunteer group. The Heat of the Day relies on a fine script by Harold Pinter, based on a novel by Elizabeth Bowen. During World War II, a widow Stella (Patricia Hodge) is approached by a mysterious stranger who calls himself Harrison (Michael Gambon, far removed from how he looks as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies). Harrison has a proposition for her - take up with him and he won't expose her lover (Michael York) whom he claims is a traitor passing secrets to the enemy. The film's pleasures lie in Pinter's carefully crafted dialogue, the performances by Hodge and Gambon, and the refusal to go for the carefully-tied-up ending. We're unsure of Harrison at the beginning - who in fact is he and what does he really want? And at the end, the answers to those questions will depend on the viewer's interpretation of what he or she has just seen, with no one interpretation being more valid than another - a typical Pinteresque result in which the voyage is more interesting than the destination. Acorn Media's release gives us each title its own Amaray case with all three packaged in a cardboard slipcover. Island at War is spread over three discs within its case and its 1.78:1 anamorphic image is the best of the set. It's particularly sharp with solid colour brightness and fidelity. Housewife, 49 (also 1.78:1 anamorphic) fares almost as well except that the night-time scenes lose a bit of definition. The Heat of the Day is full frame, looking rather faded with muted colours and below-average image detail. On the audio side, Island at War and Housewife, 49 offer stereo mixes characterized by clear dialogue that even sports some noticeable directionality. The Heat of the Day's mono track is workable. Each title's supplements are mainly textual in nature - biographies, filmographies, historical notes, cast reflections, etc. The set is recommended as a rental, but if you can find the previous stand-alone release, Housewife, 49 is worth a purchase.

Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill is a 1974 Thames Television production that stars Lee Remick in the title role.

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The program consists of 7 episodes and is presented on a 2-disc DVD release by Acorn Media. It covers Jennie's life from her meeting with the young Randolph Churchill and subsequent marriage to him in 1874 to her death in 1921. All the key events of Jennie's life are covered including the birth of her sons Winston and John, her love affair with Karl Kinsky, Randolph's political career and death from syphilis, Jennie's war work including the chartering of a hospital ship for service in the Boer War, the progress of Winston's career, Jennie's later marriages to two younger men, and her eventual death as a result of a hemorrhage stemming from a leg amputation. The story is very well written and really holds the attention after a somewhat slow opening episode. Lee Remick does a very fine job as Jennie, certainly embodying her beauty, although one could have wished for even more demonstrative portrayal that would have conveyed more forcefully the dynamicism of the woman that so entranced men. Remick is aged quite naturally and realistically over the almost 50 years of her life that are covered. Remick won Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for her efforts. Winston Churchill is very well portrayed by Warren Clarke who captures the look, mannerisms, and vocal inflections of the man remarkably accurately. So much so that in those parts of the story where he appears, he often outshines Remick's efforts. The rest of the cast is consistently of a high standard too, but Barbara Perkins (as Jennie's sister Leonie) and Ronald Pickup as Randolph Churchill particularly stay in the memory. The production itself is a handsome one with obvious attention paid to period costuming and some good location work. Acorn's full frame image is typical of DVD versions of British TV of the time. It varies in consistency with some scenes looking very sharp and detailed while others are fuzzy. Colours frequently seem faded. It's all quite workable, however, and detracts little from one's enjoyment of the production. The mono sound is clear and Andre Previn's agreeable theme for the show is decently conveyed. The only supplements are a text biography for Lee Remick, some cast filmographies, and a text history of Blenheim Palace (birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill). Recommended.

Secret Agent AKA Danger Man: The Complete Collection, which has just been released by A&E, has been with us before on DVD in several incarnations. A couple of the individual seasons have seen separate releases from A&E as has the entire collection three years ago.

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So what's new with this latest effort? As it turns out, the disc content is exactly the same, but the packaging has changed. The cover art is modestly different from the previous Complete Collection release with a different image of star Patrick McGoohan gracing it, though the logo and flavour of the graphics remain the same. The package takes up less shelf space as we now get 9 thin cases each containing two discs rather than the 18 thin cases with one disc each of before. Best of all, the SRP has been reduced by a third from $150 to $100. As to that content that remains the same, all 86 episodes are included. That comprises 39 half-hour episodes that were produced between 1960 and 1962 in which McGoohan played John Drake, an American NATO agent, and a further 46 hour-long episodes from 1964 to 1966 when Drake somehow morphed into a British agent for MI9. The resurrection of the series in 1964 came about as the result of the popularity of the James Bond films that began with Dr. No in 1962. The hour-long shows also sported a catchy title tune sung by Johnny Rivers called "Secret Agent Man". A sampling of the half-hour and hour-long programs shows that the latter were generally more interesting. The extra length allowed for more fully-developed plots and better character development. There isn't significantly more action though as the half-hour shows certainly packed in plenty of that. What also remains the same is McGoohan's characterization of John Drake as a rather smug, self-satisfied individual who rarely seemed to contemplate the possibility of his ever being wrong or intellectually bested by anyone. Viewing the shows a week apart when originally telecast, that characteristic never seemed to grate, but viewing a number of episodes at a sitting makes that aspect of the program harder to take. Ameliorating that is the variety of worldwide locations in which the stories were set - locations well evoked despite the program's British-bound production work. When the series ended with two colour episodes in 1966 (all 84 others were B&W), Patrick McGoohan went on into a little series known as The Prisoner. His "No. 6" character in that venture seemed little different from his "John Drake" persona. The full frame (as originally telecast) transfers in this A&E set are quite good on the whole. Contrast is noticeably fine and image detail quite acceptable with some modest grain present. Some episodes, notably a few among the half-hour ones, look soft with appreciable flaws and dirt apparent, but the overall average is sufficiently high that I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with the package. The stereo sound is generally in good shape. The only supplements are the US program opening featuring the Johnny Rivers song, a photo gallery, and a text biography/filmography for Patrick McGoohan. If you don't have Danger Man on DVD already, this new packaging of the complete set is recommended.

Current and Upcoming Releases

Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection (First complete collection) - Oscar® and Emmy® winner Helen Mirren in her groundbreaking, icon TV role. Mirren (The Queen) stars as Detective Jane Tennison, "one of the great character creations of our time" (Washington Post), in this revolutionary police drama broadcast on PBS to universal acclaim and more than 20 major international awards, including seven Emmys®, eight BAFTAs, and a Peabody. The 9-disc set includes nine feature-length mysteries as well as a 50-minute behind-the-scenes special. Seen on Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery! from the 1990s to the present and created by crime writer Lynda La Plante (Trial & Retribution, The Commander), guest stars include some of Britain's biggest stars--Ralph Fiennes (English Patient) and Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton). From Acorn Media, Sept. 7

Pie in the Sky, Series 3 (DVD Debut) - A detective with an eye for crime and a nose for pie. Featuring equal amounts police work and culinary adventure, Richard Griffiths (Tony®-winner The History Boys, Equus, Harry Potter films) gives a "brilliantly understated performance" (The Times) as a part-time cop, part-time restaurateur whose talent for cooking is only exceeded by his knack for solving crimes. Series 3 guest stars include Michael Kitchen (Foyle's War). Seen on public TV, it debuted on BBC1 in the U.K. in March 1994 and aired for five series. From Acorn Media, Sept. 7

Being Human: Season Two [BD and DVD] - From BBC via Warner Home Video, Sept. 21

Mr. Palfrey of Westminster Complete Collection (DVD debut) - In the vein of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Callan, this series follows a British spy hunting down traitors in the heart of government. Golden Globe® nominee Alec McCowen (Gangs of New York, The Age of Innocence, Travels with My Aunt), "plays [Palfrey] to perfection" (The Times, UK) in this stylish drama about a mild-mannered British civil servant who's secretly a counterspy. Premiered in the U.K. in 1984 and aired in the US on public television in the 1980s and 2000s. From Acorn Media, Sept. 21

Taggart, Set 3 - Featuring eight contemporary episodes, the smash hit series follows a team of Glasgow detectives taking on the city's worst cases—from blackmail to murder. Witty scripts and black humor round out this gritty police procedural, lending it universal appeal and helping it become the world's longest continually running police drama series. Available to U.S. audiences for the first time, Set 3 includes episodes that aired in the U.K. in 2005. Stars Alex Norton (Patriot Games), John Michie (To Walk with Lions), Blythe Duff, and Colin. From Acorn Media, Sept. 21

Dangerous Knowledge (1976, John Gregson) - From VCI, Sept. 28

Land Girls - Discover how the Women's Land Army stood guard as a largely unheralded part of British war history. Those who served risked their lives while sharing hardships and working alongside captured POWs. The BBC commissioned this vivid, award-winning five-part series to remember the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II. Share the brave, moving and dramatic stories of Annie, Bea, Joyce and Nancy, four young women stationed in rural England who toil in the fields to grow food for the war effort. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Sept. 28

The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, Set 2 - Hailed by critics as one of the finest mystery series ever filmed. Based on the novels by beloved crime writer Dorothy L. Sayers, the late Ian Carmichael stars as the debonair sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey in these wittily scripted and lavishly produced BBC adaptations. The mysteries ranked with Upstairs, Downstairs as the most successful series on Masterpiece Theatre in the 1970s, and the mysteries were so popular they inspired PBS's spin-off series Mystery!. Set 2 includes the final three feature-length mysteries: Murder Must Advertise, Five Red Herrings, and The Nine Tailors. From Acorn Media, Sept. 28

Midsomer Murders Set 16 (U.S. debut) - Four contemporary, stand-alone mysteries from Acorn's top-selling series. The feature-length mysteries in Set 16 have not aired in the U.S. and are available to U.S. audiences for the first time with their DVD release. DVD includes an episode commentary by star John Nettles. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, Midsomer combines quirky characters and surprising mysteries with postcard-perfect English village settings and the ever-charming John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. The episodes in Set 16 are part of Series Eleven (2008), which never broadcast in the U.S. From Acorn Media, Sept. 28

Rumpole of the Bailey: The Complete Series DVD Megaset - This 14-disc release. includes all 42 episodes from the seven seasons of the series. From A&E, Oct. 5

Great Detectives Anthology - As portrayed by Peter Cushing, the definitive Sherlock Holmes exercises his legendary deductive skills in five classic BBC productions, including The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four. Meanwhile, Dame Agatha's diminutive detective, Hercule Poirot, portrayed with fastidious elegance by the inimitable David Suchet, applies his "little grey cells" to ferret out the cause of a Death on the Nile and solve the Mystery of the Blue Train, among other Christie classics. Rounding out the trio, Joan Hickson received an Order of the British Empire for her portrayal of the brilliant spinster Miss Jane Marple, who is here to untangle the riddles of the Murder at the Vicarage, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side and many more. 18 programs on 12 discs. From A&E, Oct. 12

Inspector Lewis, Series 3 - From PBS, Oct. 12

Criminal Justice: Series 2 - The second season of this BAFTA Award winning series has five episodes on 2 DVDs. From BFS Entertainment, October 12.

Jonathan Creek: The Specials - Master of illusion and lateral thinker Jonathan Creek lives in a windmill, is employed as the mastermind behind a cut-rate magician and has unusual relationships with women. So it's not surprising that his Christmases are anything but ordinary. Jonathan Creek: Specials includes all 4 of the holiday adventures, including the 2010 special The Judas Tree. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Oct. 19

A Mind to Kill, Series 2 - From Acorn Media, Oct. 19

Wallander: Faceless Killers/The Man Who Smiled/The Fifth Woman [Blu-ray and DVD] - The award-winning drama returns as Kenneth Branagh resumes the role of Wallander in these three thrilling tales set in the beautiful landscape of southern Sweden! From BBC via Warner Home Video, Oct. 19

Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Murder on the Orient Express [Blu-ray] - This sumptuous new adaptation of Christie's most famous and acclaimed novel features fan-favorite David Suchet as Hercule Poirot as he searches for a killer on a snowbound train. The Blu-ray single includes a behind-the-scenes documentary about the history of the Orient Express, hosted by Suchet. From Acorn Media, Oct. 26 Poldark, Series 2. From Acorn Media, Oct. 26

The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis's enchanting tale comes to life in this BBC adaptation from 1988. This set includes the following complete stories from the series: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 9

Sherlock: Season One [Blu-ray and DVD] - From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 9

Lennon Naked - John Lennon is one of the most enduring figures in musical and cultural history. One quarter of 'The Fab Four', peace activist, visual artist and author, he was a man whose personal life was never short on drama, intrigue and eventually, conspiracy. Thirty years after his death, Christopher Eccleston stars as the enigmatic musician in a defining period of his life, as he moved from 'Beatle John' to an icon. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 23

Tomorrow We Live (1943, with John Clements)/Inquest (1939, with Elizabeth Allan) - From VCI, Nov. 30

Sarah Jane Adventures, The: Season 3 - Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, one-time companion to that strange wanderer in time and space known as the Doctor, is back for more alien-busting adventures. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Jan. 4, 2011

Welcome to the second edition of The British Beat, my quarterly column on DVD and Blu-ray releases of British TV shows and feature films. This time I have 9 reviews for you: Wallander (on Blu-ray from BBC Video, distributed by Warner Bros.); Murder on the Orient Express (on Blu-ray from Acorn Media); The Guilty, Mr. Palfrey of Westminster, Midsomer Murders: Set 16, and Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files (all on DVD from Acorn Media), and Executive Stress: The Complete Second Series, Is It Legal?: The Complete Second Series, and The Likes of Sykes (all on Region 2 PAL DVD from Network). I also have a few comments on the desirability of two recent A&E DVD re-releases: Rumpole of the Bailey: The Complete Series and Benny Hill: The Thames Years 1969-1989 - The Complete Megaset.

I've updated the listing of forthcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases further on in the column too.

I hope you'll enjoy this first edition of the column for 2011 and I look forward to receiving any comments you may have.

Blu-ray Reviews

The fine BBC series Wallander has now completed two seasons of three episodes each, and the second season (originally aired in January 2010) has been released on Blu-ray by BBC Video (distributed by Warner Bros.).

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Kurt Wallander is a Swedish police inspector who has been the subject of a series of highly successful novels by Henning Monkell. The books have been adapted as feature films and a Swedish TV series as well as the BBC one. The latter stars Kenneth Branagh as the rumpled, disillusioned detective who investigates a number of mainly horrific crimes based out of Ystad, Sweden as he struggles with a life alone, a difficult aging father, and an uncertain relationship with his grown-up daughter. The second season of Wallander consists of three 90-minute mysteries that are all extremely engrossing tales - as much for the intrigue of the mysteries as for the personal demons that dog Wallander, accentuated by his killing of a suspect in the first episode. In "Faceless Killers", the murder of an elderly couple unleashes hatred against 'foreigners' working in Sweden. "The Man Who Smiled" finds Wallander finally roused from a self-imposed exile to investigate the death of the father of a close friend who also later commits suicide. In "The Fifth Woman", Wallander investigates the murders of three elderly men all regarded as bullies and womanizers. The episodes can be enjoyed separately, but it's preferable to view them in order as there are common strands related to Wallander's personal life that play important roles in each case. Branagh's work as Wallander is very impressive and he manages a nice balance between the character's personal and professional life that rings true. There's plenty of good police work, but it's the personal aspect that elevates the series. The investigative team he works with is typical of ensemble detective shows these days (female boss, hotshot young male associate detective, attractive young female associate, rumpled pathologist), but it's a likable group that complements Wallander's sometimes mercurial, but more often brooding nature well. BBC Video presents the second series on Blu-ray on two discs. The 1.78:1 transfers are very strong, offering sharp images with excellent fine detail - facial stubble is well conveyed (a good thing since most male characters seem to have either it or a beard). Colour fidelity is very good with the somewhat washed-out look of many scenes well rendered. Some background noise is detectable in darker sequences. The DTS-HD 5.1 track is workmanlike. It provides clear dialogue with some directionality, but surround usage is limited. English SDH subtitling is provided. The supplements consist of two featurettes, one of 15 minutes duration on the locations in Ystad utilized by the series and the other (10 minutes long) showing cast members discussing work on the second season. Recommended. The release is also available on standard DVD. For those interested in the first season, it's also available on DVD but not on Blu-ray.

Agatha Christie's 1934 novel, "Murder on the Orient Express" has been filmed a number of times, most recently in 2010 for the TV series "Agatha Christie's Poirot". David Suchet, as he has since 1989, plays Christie's fastidious Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Acorn Media has chosen this version of Murder on the Orient Express for its first Blu-ray release. Comparisons with Sidney Lumet's excellent 1974 film version are inevitable and indeed the new TV film falls short of its star-studded predecessor.

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On the plus side, David Suchet's comfort with Poirot results in a more interesting and rounded characterization than Albert Finney's and for me a closer approximation to my own mental picture of what the character looks like and how he acts. On the other hand, this version of the film is less elegant and presents a somewhat darker and drier reading of the story. The supporting cast of suspects is much less interesting and particularly on the female side suffers from a sameness that makes many of them hard to keep straight. Still, for those unfamiliar with the solution to the mystery, it's fairly well camouflaged in this version and Poirot's unraveling of it is interestingly if somewhat statically played out. Acorn's 1.78:1 Blu-ray transfer looks quite fairly nice in the well-lit scenes. Image sharpness and detail is quite good in those. Darker and nighttime scenes suffer from increasing amounts of noise with the image looking rather murky at times as faces and objects lose definition. A DTS-HD 2.0 stereo track is offered that keeps the dialogue clear and well-balanced. It also does a good job with a rather engaging score by Christian Henson. English SDH subtitles are provided. The supplements' highlight is a ¾-hour 2009 travelogue hosted by Suchet as he experiences a ride on the modern-day Orient Express, Suchet is out-of-character for this of course and offers an infectious commentary and history as the trip proceeds. Its in 1080i and looks very strong. Several text-based filmographies and lists, etc. round out the disc. I suggest a rental for this one.

TV DVD Reviews (Region 1 except where noted)

The Guilty is a very fine ITV production that was originally aired in two parts in 1991. Its 3-hour-plus story is a rich though somewhat coincidence-laden exercise that concerns a London barrister (Michael Kitchen) on the verge of being named a judge who commits an offense that if publicized would compromise his position and freedom.

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The offense - the rape of his new secretary (Caroline Catz) - sets in motion a chain of horrific events that eventually involves the secretary's roommate, a son Eddy he didn't know he had and Eddy's two friends, his current wife, and several associates in his law office. There's no doubt that The Guilty is a compelling experience, yet the coincidences that tie all the characters together give the plot a contrived feel that occasionally lifts one out of the story. As the plot develops, inevitably one begins to wonder how the situation will be resolved. It's sufficient to say that the standard expected resolution is not what we get. The program deserves kudos for that, but the ending we do get ties everything up just a bit too conveniently and leaves a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth that ultimately diminishes a bit one's admiration of the program as a whole. The work by the cast is impressive, with Michael Kitchen's work certainly deserving of high praise. Those familiar with the Doc Martin series will be pleased to see some fine work by Caroline Catz from the early part of her career. Sean Gallagher (Coronation Street) also does a nice job as the barrister's son Eddy. Acorn Media has brought The Guilty to DVD in a two-disc set. The full frame image (as originally aired) looks fairly decent. It's not as sharp as more recent British TV shows on DVD, but it's reasonably clean with acceptable colour fidelity. Shadow detail particularly at night is somewhat lacking and some of the night-time scenes are rather noisy. The stereo sound is in good shape and English SDH subtitles are provided. A few text-based cast filmographies are the only supplement. Recommended.

Mr. Palfrey of Westminster: Complete Collection is a recent release from Acorn Media that gives us all ten 50-minute episodes of the late-Soviet era spy game program on three discs.

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The show was originally broadcast as two series (4 episodes in Series One and 6 in Series Two) in 1984 and 1985. Mr. Palfrey (Alec McCowen) is a valued member of British security services and he is retained when a re-organization affects many others' jobs. He does get a new boss known simply as the "Coordinator" (Caroline Blakiston) as well as an assistant named Blair who is simply someone assigned to keep the Coordinator aware of Palfrey's actions and methods. Palfrey is somewhat of a loner who likes to follow his own methods. His character is principled and low key, but dogged in his pursuit of threats to British security. He never gives the impression of other than a faceless bureaucrat on the surface, but he's a shrewd and calculating one underneath. This stands him in good stead as he's frequently underestimated by the opposition. McCowen's personification of Palfrey is a delight to watch, particularly as he is able to convey a combination of bemused acceptance of his role combined with at times a barely-concealed smugness that suggests he's more in control of things than his superiors. Series One's four episodes are all impressive fare - serious, no-nonsense tales that introduce and solidify Palfrey's relentless, suspicious nature. He's often at odds with the Coordinator, but she's smart enough to give him plenty of freedom to complete his assignments. The cases involve him in determining the truth about a diplomat suspected of spying for the Russians while posted to Prague; investigating why an air vice marshal seems to be engaged in compromising activities; establishing if a defector is really dissatisfied with the Soviets or merely setting himself up as a double agent; and looking into the provenance of an old Russian icon. The Second Series' six episodes are also well written with the uniqueness of Palfrey's character retained, though tempered by more of a willingness to partake in some give-and-take with fellow-workers. Defectors or moles are frequently the subject of Palfrey's investigations in this series. Overall, fans of another British spy series - Callan - will find similarities of style and tone in Mr. Palfrey of Westminster; so if you liked Callan, I suspect Mr. Palfrey will be much your cup of tea too. Acorn's full frame release (as originally aired) is presentable. The image looks a little tired with colours that seem pale and the presence of speckles and scratches that appear more prevalent on the show's exteriors. The stereo sound is in good shape and English SDH subtitles are provided. There are no supplements. I'd suggest a rental for this title.

Executive Stress is a delightful British comedy show that appeared for three series in the 1986 -1989 period. Network released the first set of episodes early in 2010 and is now making The Complete Second Series available.

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This is a Region 2 only release. It consists of a single disc containing six 25-minute episodes. Executive Stress's story line concerns Caroline Fairchild (Penelope Keith) who decides to resume her former career in publishing after her family is all grown up. She gets a job at Oasis Publishing as Editorial Director using her maiden name only to find herself working alongside her husband Donald when his publishing company (where he is Marketing Director) is taken over by Oasis. Oasis and its head, Edgar Frankland Jr., have a policy against married couples working together and neither Caroline nor Donald is willing to give up their position, so they decide to try to hide the fact of their marriage and continue on at Oasis together. This series premise offers only a reasonable scope for inventiveness before it could become absurd. After a superb first series, the newly released second series recognizes this and works its way towards revealing the Fairchilds' true situation at the company. The nature of the solution is quite palatable to viewers although it limits the series' future possibilities. As a result only one more series was made (not yet announced for DVD). On the acting side, Penelope Keith is the main common factor in the series and working with fine scripts from George Layton, she is witty and obviously delights in her role. She offers a combination of finesse and knowing superiority tinged with a bit of wry exasperation that makes Caroline a delightful character. The first series had the benefit of Geoffrey Palmer's considerable comic talents - his dry wit and penchant for deadpan delivery with a knowing look are familiar to anybody at all steeped in British TV comedy (think As Time Goes By and Butterflies). Unfortunately he does not return in series two. His replacement as Donald, Peter Bowles (another very familiar face, though at home as much in drama as he is in comedy), is a pretty good choice but Bowles doesn't convey quite the sense of comfort in the role that Palmer did. Bowles and Penelope Keith had previously worked together in To the Manor Born. Network's Complete Second Series Region 2 PAL DVD release of Executive Stress is quite pleasing looking. The transfer is full frame as originally aired and provides a sharp image with decent colour fidelity. Colour brightness seems a little inconsistent at times. The image is fairly clean with only the occasional speckle or scratch. The mono sound is in good shape, but there are no subtitles. The disc offers no supplements. Recommended.

The absurdity of the British sitcom Is It Legal? makes one faintly embarrassed to admit to watching it, but it does grow on one. That's mainly due to a fine ensemble cast who seldom fail to bring a smile to one's face in their impersonation of their misfit characters.

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The characters all work at a small suburban law firm, with the term "work" being used advisedly. We have senior partner, Dick (Jeremy Clyde), who seems to have forgotten everything he ever knew about law and spends his time schmoozing with potential clients, drinking sherry, and honing his golf game. The junior partner is the outrageously inept, accident-prone, freshly minted lawyer, Colin (Richard Lumsden), who rates his position by virtue of his father having been a partner. Then there's Stella (Imelda Staunton), the one partner who seems competent and actually does work but exists in a continual state of exasperation over the rest of the office's incompetence. Add in office manager Bob (Patrick Barlow) who's permanently besotted by the young woman who delivers sandwiches to the office, secretary Alison (Kate Isitt) who has no apparent office skills whatsoever, and dozy office boy Darren (Matthew Ashforde) and you have what seems on the surface to be a recipe for silliness that should only offer diminishing returns. Indeed, viewing the first few episodes of the first season seems to confirm that. Then a strange thing happens. You start to get quite hooked on the series just because the characters are so well portrayed in every single instance. Imelda Staunton is the real joy of the series, but Patrick Barlow and Richard Lumsden aren't far behind. Is It Legal? lasted for three series (1995, 1996, 1998) winning the British Comedy Award for Best Sitcom in 1995. The Second Series is the best of the three with all the players very comfortable in their roles and each character allowed to shine in at least one episode. Network has just released The Complete Second Series on DVD in Region 2 PAL. It consists of seven 25-minute episodes on one disc. The episodes can be enjoyed in isolation, but there is a very loose story continuity that benefits from viewing them in order. It's best though not absolutely essential to take a look at the first series (released by Network early in 2010) before watching the second. The episodes are presented full frame as originally aired and look very nice. The image is sharp and colour fidelity and brightness is strong. The transfers are very clean. The mono sound is in good shape. There are no subtitles and no supplements. Recommended. Fans of Is It Legal? should note that series three is expected to appear on DVD from Network in a couple of months.

Eric Sykes is a British radio and TV comedy legend who first made his name in the 1950s writing and working with the likes of Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, and Peter Sellers. For many people, he's best remembered for the time he spent with Tony Hancock appearing in The Tony Hancock Show and a couple of inspired TV series in the 1960s (Sykes and A …) and 1970s (Sykes), both of which co-starred his good friend and colleague Hattie Jacques.

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At the beginning of the 1970s, Sykes also started doing occasional TV specials for Thames Television. Three of these efforts have now been gathered together by Network and released on Region 2 PAL DVD under the title The Likes of Sykes. The 50-minute specials are Sykes - With the Lid Off (1971), The Likes of Sykes (1980), and The Eric Sykes 1990 Show (1982). Unfortunately, all three are more misfire than anything else, even allowing for modern sensibilities. The general tenet of each is one of attempting to expose the absurdity that goes on in the making of a television show, presented through gentle comedy skits and musical numbers. In the first, Sykes acts as a warm-up man engaging the audience before the actual show before participating in most of the rest of the show as well. In the others, he acts as both stage door manager commenting on the action as well as participating in it. The trouble with the second and third specials in the set is that most of their skits just aren't that funny. The presence of Hattie Jacques in the first one tempers that criticism there somewhat, as the sequences that involve her and Sykes are quite amusing, with the staging of the "I Remember It Well" number from Gigi hitting the target. Other performers appearing in the specials such as Philip Gilbert, Diana Coupland, Chic Murray, and Dandy Nichols are likely to be familiar only to inveterate British TV comedy fans. Network's full frame presentation is rather tired looking in terms of colour brightness. Image sharpness is decent, however. The mono sound is in good shape, but there are no subtitles and no supplements. A rental for Eric Sykes fans only.

The Midsomer Murders shows are surely some of the most quintessentially British of programs. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, these contemporary English village mystery programs offer inspired plots; well-concealed murderers; a bucolic setting that belies the evils that appear to lurk behind every hedge and in every country house, farm, and village business; and superior casting choices.

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There is much pure detective work in the stories, but enough instinct, humour, and luck to give them a dose of reality that raises them above the level of strictly grind-it-out police procedural. It helps immensely that in the series stars, John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and Jason Hughes as his earnest, efficient dogsbody Detective Sergeant Ben Jones, we have two of the most comfortable and likable characters in such TV programs. Nettles has been around since the series beginning in 1997 while Hughes came on in 2005 as the third assistant that Nettles has worked with. Chief amongst the handful of other continuing characters with minor roles is Jane Wymark as Barnaby's long-suffering wife, Joyce. Acorn Media's most recent release in the lengthy series is Midsomer Murders: Set 16 which offers four 100-minute programs taken from the program's Series 8 originally aired in 2008. Three of the four are superior mystery entertainments ("Midsomer Life" - after the unpopular editor of a local magazine is found dead, Barnaby stumbles upon a nest of bribery, adultery, and secrets kept too long; "Days of Misrule" - Christmas comes early for Barnaby and Jones when a suspicious explosion frees them from a dreaded team-building exercise; and "Talking to the Dead" - two couples go missing from the sleepy village of Monks Barton and the locals blame ghosts, but Barnaby suspects a more earthly culprit) while the fourth ("The Magician's Nephew" - Barnaby must determine if witchcraft is to blame when several members of a pagan cult are killed in an unusual manner) has a somewhat muddled storyline though does offer a nicely executed Hallowe'en background. The 1.78:1 anamorphic transfers are very good indeed - sharp, bright, clean, with notably good colour fidelity. The stereo sound delivers clear dialogue and there is even some very modest separation evident. English SDH subtitles are provided. Even better, there is a full-length audio commentary by John Nettles and Jane Wymark accompanying "The Magician's Nephew". The chemistry the pair has on screen carries through nicely in the warm, comfortable and informative commentary they deliver. Highly recommended. If Set 16's four programs are your first introduction to Midsomer Murders, how lucky you are, for that's but four of 80 programs that have so far been broadcast over thirteen seasons and only 14 of them are not yet on DVD from Acorn Media. Previous Acorn Sets 9, 10, 11, and 12 have recently been collected into the box set Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files. That's 16 mysteries (on 16 discs housed in 4 keepcases or volumes held in a cardboard slipcase) with most being of a very high standard offering the mix of bizarre/gruesome/unexpected murder, thoughtful police work, and tinges of gentle humour we've come to expect. As usual the mysteries are set in Midsomer County, that mystical land of English small-town country life in which all sorts of untoward events seem to occur. There is one exception that takes Barnaby out of his natural environment ("Down Among the Dead Men" in Volume 3 of the set, or originally Acorn's Set 11). It's partway through the Village Case Files too, in "The House in the Woods" episode of Volume 3, that Detective Sergeant Jones makes his debut albeit in a rather low-key fashion. I enjoyed all the programs but particularly notable are: "Dead in the Water" - Barnaby and Scott (Jones' predecessor) immerse themselves in the luxurious world of rowing after a murder mars the annual Midsomer Regatta; "Hidden Depths" - Barnaby and Scott face a bizarre crime scene when a local oenophile gets killed by a combination of catapult, croquet, and Chateau Lafite; "Four Funerals and a Wedding" - every year, the Skimmington Fayre rekindles and age-old battle of the sexes in Broughton, but this year the bodies really start to accumulate; and "Death in Chorus" - approaching a big choral competition, the Midsomer Worthy amateur choir loses its tenor to murder. The 1.78 anamorphic transfers are without exception all of a high standard with bright, sharp transfers offering good colour fidelity. The stereo sound is clear and English SDH subtitles are provided only for the last four mysteries. The supplements include a brief bio of Caroline Graham and cast filmographies (both repeated on several of the set's volumes), text interviews with John Nettles and Jason Hughes, and some production notes. Highly recommended.

Finally, I've cast my eyes briefly over two megasets that A&E released this past autumn: Rumpole of the Bailey: The Complete Series and Benny Hill: The Thames Years 1969-1989 - The Complete Megaset.

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The appearance of megasets usually signifies the completion of individual season or series releases of the program in question and sometimes an improved packaging with a more attractive price. Of the two new sets, only the Rumpole one offers either of the latter. There was a Rumpole Megaset from A&E in 2006 that listed for about $150 and contained the entire run of 42 episodes on 14 discs plus a number of extras that included the feature film Rumpole's Return. The only item missing was the series pilot show that has been released separately as Rumpole of the Bailey: The Lost Episode by Acorn Media. The new 2010 A&E Megaset has exactly the same content and same transfers as the 2006 one, the only differences being the slipcase packaging which now has a Union Jack background, 7 slimcases (2 discs each for a total of 14), and a nice price reduction to $100 list (and available at considerably lower prices on-line). If you haven't availed yourself of this superior British courtroom comedy/drama, there's no better time than now. Highly recommended. Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset is another matter. Benny Hill is an acquired taste, but those who like him, as they say, like him a lot. In 2007, A&E offered a megaset that included all 58 full-length episodes from the Thames TV period of 1969-1989 on 18 discs and included a number of nice extras scattered throughout. The 18 discs were packaged three each in six keepcases which in turn were housed in a sturdy slipcase. List price was $150. A&E's 2010 megaset offers exactly the same content and transfers, but packages them as six discs in each of three keepcases, all contained in a flimsy cardboard box with flaps on both sides that make it annoying to get at the discs. The list price remains at the same $150 as the previous megaset incarnation. If you're looking to acquire a complete run of the Benny Hill material, I'd stick with the 2007 set, which is still available and with some good discounts possible.

Current and Upcoming Releases

Jonathan Creek: The Specials. Master of illusion and lateral thinker Jonathan Creek lives in a windmill, is employed as the mastermind behind a cut-rate magician and has unusual relationships with women. So it's not surprising that his Christmases are anything but ordinary. Jonathan Creek: Specials includes all 4 of the holiday adventures, including the 2010 special The Judas Tree. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 2

Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files. The villages of Midsomer County seem as placid and pristine as any in England-but just below the surface lie deceit, blackmail and murder. This 16-disc set is packed with 16 sinister crimes tackled by Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles, Bergerac) along with brash Detective Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins, Love in a Cold Climate) and, later, zealous Detective Sergeant Ben Jones (Jason Hughes, This Life). From Acorn Media, Nov. 2

Wallander: Faceless Killers/The Man Who Smiled/The Fifth Woman [Blu-ray and DVD]. The award-winning drama returns as Kenneth Branagh resumes the role of Wallander in these three tales set in the beautiful landscape of southern Sweden! From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 2

Sherlock: Season One [Blu-ray and DVD]. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 9

The Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis's enchanting tale comes to life in this BBC adaptation from 1988. This set includes the following complete stories from the series: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 9 (Delayed to Nov. 23)

Lennon Naked. John Lennon is one of the most enduring figures in musical and cultural history. One quarter of 'The Fab Four', peace activist, visual artist and author, he was a man whose personal life was never short on drama, intrigue and eventually, conspiracy. Thirty years after his death, Christopher Eccleston stars as the enigmatic musician in a defining period of his life, as he moved from 'Beatle John' to an icon. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Nov. 23

Tomorrow We Live (1943, with John Clements)/Inquest (1939, with Elizabeth Allan). From VCI, Nov. 30

Sarah Jane Adventures, The: Season 3. Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, one-time companion to that strange wanderer in time and space known as the Doctor, is back for more alien-busting adventures. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Jan. 4, 2011

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1987. 12 episodes, and includes the 1986 New Year's Special "Uncle of the Bride". From BBC via Warner Home Video, Jan. 18

Merlin: The Complete Second Season. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Jan. 18

Waking the Dead: Season 5. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Jan. 18

Dirty Tricks. Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) is on the run from the law in this saucy British romp—part bedroom farce, part crime caper. He's manipulative, money-grubbing, and amoral, but is he a murderer? Winner of an International Emmy, based on the book by Michael Dibdin (the Aurelio Zen mysteries), this delightful black comedy was seen on BBC America. Approx. 146 min. on 1 DVD. From Acorn Media, Jan. 24.

Guilty, The. Michael Kitchen (Foyle's War) stars in a tense British drama where lives intertwine and everyone is guilty of something. London attorney Steven Vey (Kitchen) has a beautiful wife and a brilliant career. One night, a celebration with his pretty secretary goes too far. Meanwhile, a Birmingham punk fresh out of prison searches for his father and is lured into a conspiracy. Approx. 201 min. on 2 DVDs. From Acorn Media, Jan. 4.

Enemy at the Door: Series 2 - Finale of the gripping WWII drama series based on the harrowing true story of the long Nazi occupation of Britain's Channel Island. The 1978-1980 series stars Alfred Burke (Public Eye) and Robert Horsfall (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), with guest stars John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings), Kenneth Cranham (Rome), Stephanie Cole (Doc Martin), and David Hayman (Trial & Retribution). Intelligent writing, masterful acting and exacting historical detail distinguished the series on public television for years. A 4-disc set. From Acorn Media, Jan. 4

Elizabeth R. Episodes: The Lion's Cub, The Marriage Game, Shadow of the Sun, Horrible Conspiracies, The Enterprise of England, Sweet England's Pride. This collection recounts the epic life and times of the remarkable Elizabeth I in a cycle of 6 plays. Won multiple Emmy Awards. 4 DVD set. From BBC via Warner Home Video, Jan. 25.

Man in a Suitcase: Set 1. An action-packed Cold War late 1960s drama series from ITV starring Richard Bradford and featuring a host of superb guest stars, including Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice), James Grout (Inspector Morse), Anton Rodgers (Lillie), Nicola Pagett (Upstairs, Downstairs), Peter Vaughan (The Remains of the Day), Stuart Damon (General Hospital), and Judy Geeson (Mad About You). A 4-disc, 15-episode set from Acorn Media, Jan. 25.

Pie in the Sky: Series 4. Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths, Harry Potter, The History Boys) divides his time between catching criminals and his true passion-cooking. The proprietor of Pie in the Sky, his dream restaurant, Crabbe had hoped to while away his retirement serving up his favorite dishes with his accountant wife, Margaret (Maggie Steed, Shine on Harvey Moon). But his boss, Assistant Chief Constable Freddy Fisher (Malcolm Sinclair, Casino Royale), is determined to keep his best detective on the payroll, tackling the cases that only Crabbe's deft touch can solve. A 2-disc set containing 6 episodes running approximately 296 minutes. From Acorn Media, Jan. 25.

Blue Murder: The Complete Collection. A 9-disc set that will include all 19 episodes from ITV's production from 2003-2009, plus bonus materials which consist of text interviews with stars Caroline Quentin and Ian Kelsey, a Behind-the-Scenes Documentary, and cast filmographies. From Acorn Media, February 1

Discovering Hamlet. Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi (Cadfael), two of Britain's greatest actors, stage Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. A behind-the-scenes look at Shakespearean theatre with more than three hours of bonus features, including a new, exclusive interview with Jacobi. In 1988, rising star Kenneth Branagh tackled the role of Shakespeare's prince of Denmark for the first time in his professional career under the guidance of celebrated actor Derek Jacobi, considered "the best Hamlet of his generation". The production also marked Jacobi's directorial debut. Narrated by Patrick Stewart. (2-Disc). From Acorn Media, February 1

The Flockton Flyer: Season One (1976-77). From VCI, February 1

Garrow's Law: Series 1. Courtroom drama set in 18th century England. The 2-disc set will include 4 episodes, plus a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, a photo gallery, cast filmographies and a biography of William Garrow. From Acorn Media, February 1

Single-Handed: Set 1. A lone cop fights crime and corruption in rural Ireland: murder and intrigue on Ireland's remote coast! The 3-disc set will include 3 episodes ("Natural Justice", "The Stolen Child" and "The Drowning Man"), plus a bonus text interview with the producer, and production notes. Running time is 278 minutes. From Acorn Media, February 1

Murphy's Law: Series 3. BBC's hit undercover cop series starring James Nesbitt (Waking Ned Devine, Bloody Sunday, Match Point, and Peter Jackson's The Hobbit in 2012) as a maverick Irish cop taking on the London crime world. Murphy's Law ran for five seasons and aired on BBC America in the U.S. From Acorn Media, February 15

New Tricks: Season 3. Showcasing a superb ensemble cast and more mysteries tackled with typical wit and flair, the third season of the hit UK crime series makes its highly anticipated DVD debut. Featuring retired cops solving cold cases, this fresh and funny British crime drama has earned itself fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Broadcast on the BBC for seven seasons since 2003 with an eighth season in production, New Tricks also boasts ongoing public television broadcast exposure in North America. The series stars Amanda Redman (Sexy Beast), Dennis Waterman (The Sweeney), Alan Armstrong (Bleak House), and James Bolam (The Beiderbecke Affair). 3-disc set, 8 episodes plus 20-minute behind-the-scenes featurettes. From Acorn Media, February 22

Fresh Fields: Set 1. Starring Julia McKenzie (Marple) and Anton Rodgers, the International Emmy-winning comedy seen on PBS makes home video debut. The lighthearted empty-nester comedy has broadcast continually on PBS since the 1980s. McKenzie and Rodgers play a happily married couple adjusting to middle age. The DVD 2-disc set includes the first two series of the affable Brit-com (12 episodes). From Acorn Media, February 22

Midsomer Murders: Set 17. Episodes available to U.S. audiences for the first time. Four new, contemporary, stand-alone mysteries from Acorn's top-selling series. Fan favorite John Nettles (Bergerac) returns as Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby in these engrossing mysteries set in the idyllic villages of England's deadliest county. The episodes in Set 17 are the first part of Series Twelve (2009), and have not been broadcast in the U.S. From Acorn Media, February 22

Murder Investigation Team: Series 1. The hit, realistic procedural crime drama in the vein of CSI reveals the gritty reality of police work. Broadcast on A&E in the U.S. and on ITV in the U.K. (2003), the suspenseful series follows a squad of elite detectives as they investigate horrific crimes in metropolitan London. Meticulously crafted to reflect real-life investigations, each episode brims with twists and tension. From the makers of popular, long-running series, The Bill, the series stars a strong ensemble cast. The DVD set has 3 discs; 8 episodes. From Acorn Media, March 1

Napoleon & Love. The romantic exploits of Napoleon Bonaparte (Ian Holm) as he conquers Europe's battlefields and bedrooms. Ian Holm (The Lord of the Rings) leads an illustrious cast in a romantic drama about Napoleon's many loves. Broadcast on A&E and PBS, this sumptuous costume drama follows the. The DVD set has 3-discs with 9 episodes. From Acorn Media, March 1

The Norman Conquests. Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious Emmy-nominated trilogy seen on plays by Alan Ayckbourn and broadcast in the late 1970s as part of PBS' Great Performance PBS. This uproarious study in family dysfunction is told from three angles. Based on the celebrated series, the release follows 2009's hit Broadway revival that garnered the adaptation Tony Award® recognition. The DVD 3-Disc Set features three full-length dramas with pitch-perfect performances by Richard Briers (Good Neighbors), Penelope Keith (To the Manor Born), Penelope Wilton (Match Point), David Troughton (Fingersmith), and Oscar nominee Tom Conti (Shirley Valentine) in a tale of love, lust, and confusion seen from three sides. From Acorn Media, March 1

Dahlziel and Pascoe: Season 3. Four 90-minute episodes on 2 discs: Under World, Child's Play, Bones and Silence, and The Wood Beyond. From BBC via Warner Home Video, March 8

The Alan Bennett Collection featuring An Englishman Abroad. Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Madness of King George) is one of Britain's most popular and prolific playwrights. Following his runaway success with Beyond the Fringe in the Sixties, he began writing for the stage, but soon found that his work transferred easily and effectively to the small screen. This collection, spanning over twenty years from 1972 to 1994, showcases Bennett's observant eye for the absurdities of modern life and his sharp ear for dialogue. The BAFTA-winning An Englishman Abroad was inspired by Coral Browne's real-life encounter with an eccentric Englishman in Moscow. None other than the notorious spy Guy Burgess (Alan Bates), he sends the actress on a rather counterrevolutionary mission. Also includes: The Insurance Man (with Daniel Day Lewis as Franz Kafka), A Question of Attribution (with Prunella Scales as Queen Elizabeth II and James Fox as Sir Anthony Blunt), 102 Boulevard Haussman (with Alan Bates and Janet McTeer) plus early plays A Day Out and Sunset Across the Bay (directed by Stephan Frears) and Our Winnie. Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances) stars in A Visit from Miss Prothero and A Woman of No Importance. Two film essays, Dinner at Noon and Portrait or Bust, reveal Alan Bennett's unique onscreen presence. Four discs. From BBC via Warner Home Video, March 29

Upstairs Downstairs Complete Series: 40th Anniversary Edition. Featuring more than 25 hours of never-before-seen extras and collectible packaging, the 21-disc collection arrives on DVD two weeks before the PBS premiere of the new BBC revival of the series. From Acorn Media, March 29

Lark Rise to Candleford - The Complete Collection. A 14-DVD set with a running time of 1892 minutes. From BBC via Warner Home Video, April 5.

Lark Rise to Candleford: The Complete Season 4. A 2-DVD set. From BBC via Warner Home Video, April 5

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1988 and 1989. A 2-DVD package. From BBC via Warner Home Video, April 12

Kes (1969, directed by Ken Loach). Supplements will include: Making Kes - a new documentary featuring Loach, Menges, producer Tony Garnett, and actor David Bradley; The Southbank Show: Ken Loach (1993), a profile of the filmmaker, featuring Loach, Garnett, directors Stephen Frears and Alan Parker, and other Loach collaborators; Cathy Come Home (1967), a feature directed by Loach and produced by Garnett, with an introduction by film writer Graham Fuller; the original theatrical trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by Fuller. From Criterion, on either DVD or Blu-ray, April 19

Welcome to the third edition of The British Beat, my quarterly column on DVD and Blu-ray releases of British TV shows and feature films. This time I have 11 reviews for you: Candlelight in Algeria and Thunder in the City (from VCI); Fresh Fields: Set 1, Midsomer Murders: Set 17, Murder Investigation Team: Series One, Upstairs Downstairs: Series One, Murphy's Law: Series 3, and Single-Handed: Set 1 (from Acorn Media); Dalziel & Pascoe: Season 3 (from BBC Video via Warner Bros.); and Is It Legal?: Series Three and The Governor: Season One (Region 2 releases from Network).

I've updated the listing of forthcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases further on in the column too.

I hope you'll enjoy this spring edition of the column for 2011 and I look forward to receiving any comments you may have.

Film DVD Reviews

Candlelight in Algeria was part of a brief respite in 1943 for James Mason from the costume dramas that he had begun doing at Gainsborough Studios, part of the Rank organization.

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With the success of The Man in Grey, a costume drama that he apparently hated doing though it made him an international star and the prospect of four more films like it, the idea of doing several espionage pictures (that had been lined up before his contract with Rank began) likely seemed quite appealing. None of the three films are more than average entertainments (the other two were They Met in the Dark and Hotel Reserve), but Candlelight in Algeria is certainly an amiable time-passer. Mason plays a British agent named Alan Thurston tasked with retrieving some film containing a photograph that inadvertently reveals the location of secret meetings on the Algerian coast where plans are being finalized for the allied landings in North African during World War II. The film with the photograph is being held by a neutral party in Algiers and the Germans (in the person of Dr. Muller - Walter Rilla) are also trying to get hold of it. Thurston involves a young American painter, Susan Ann Foster (Carla Lehmann), to assist him in his task. The pair are initially successful, but Muller is soon on their trail, one that leads through the Algerian Casbah. James Mason doesn't make a huge impression in the film, and in fact looks somewhat silly as he sports a moustache or a fez at times. The second-billed Carla Lehmann actually has more screen time and is quite effective in her role even if the Winnipeg-born but basically British actress is never very convincing as an American. The film does succeed in creating a North African atmosphere (in a Casablanca-like manner) and the story moves along briskly. At 82 minutes, it holds one's attention well even if there's really nothing really novel in the plot or its execution to dwell on. VCI's DVD release looks very good. The full frame image is sharp, offering a nicely realized grey scale with notably fine contrast. The source material is in good shape with the resulting transfer being quite clean with only a few speckles and minor debris to be seen. The mono sound is equally strong. There are no supplements. Recommended.

In late 1936, Edward G. Robinson was unhappy with Warner Bros. He had tired of the gangster and social significance roles and with only two films left on his contract, he welcomed a loan-out to Columbia. Columbia had a script called Thunder in the City that had been prepared by a British company and off Robinson headed to London for filming.

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The script, which had Robinson playing high-pressure salesman Dan Armstrong whose American employers tire of his wild schemes and send him to England to absorb a more-dignified approach to selling, actually ended up better than when Robinson first set out for London. After voicing his objections to the script's predictability and silliness to the London producers, they agreed that it needed fixing. Robinson by chance ran into playwright Robert Sherwood who was then engaged to rewrite the script, turning it into a more subtle, somewhat satirical effort. The resulting tale about Armstrong trying to make a quick profit for the English owner of a mine producing magnetite and coming up against an wily businessman who has his own plans for the mineral (Ralph Richardson) is frequently amusing and certainly moves briskly, but the overall impact is lessened by a weak ending and the unconvincing acting of Austrian actress Luli Deste as an English lady of whom Armstrong is enamored. Robinson delivers his usual impressive, brash performance and Nigel Bruce also appears to good effect as the mine owner. For the latter two performances, the rather meaninglessly-titled Thunder in the City is worth a viewing, but its importance in Robinson's life is unquestioned. It afforded Robinson the opportunity to immerse himself in art at the London and Paris galleries and was the occasion of the beginning of his well-known art-collecting career. VCI's full-frame DVD is quite workable. It's a little inconsistent in its sharpness and contrast, but for the most part looks quite good. Image detail is just average, as there is frequently a dark cast to the transfer. The mono sound is quite workable though a little muffled at times. Overall, the VCI release is a distinct improvement over any of the versions from the public domain specialists that I've seen. Recommended for Edward G. Robinson fans; others should try a rental.

TV DVD Reviews (Region 1 except where noted)

Murder Investigation Team: Series One is somewhat reminiscent of the American CSI series, but with a definite British flavour in terms of police procedure and team interaction.

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It's actually a spin-off from the long-running British cop show The Bill, with the first episode investigating the death of a police sergeant from that series. Thereafter there seems to be no connection to The Bill whatsoever. Aired originally in the spring of 2003 on the ITV network, the first series continued for eight nominally 1-hour episodes (actually 49 minutes). A second series of four 90-minute episodes was aired in 2005. No subsequent episodes were made. Murder Investigation Team: Series One has its strengths and weaknesses, though the former greatly outweigh the latter. On the positive side, the investigative team is an interesting group to spend time with. It includes Samantha Spiro's hard-edged DI Vivien Friend as the team leader, closely assisted by Lindsey Coulson as the empathetic DC Rosie MacManus and Michael McKell as DS Trevor Hands. These three are the principals of the group though four or five others are part of the team as well. The entire ensemble functions well as a group and it's interesting to note many brief moments when quick asides or knowing looks between various characters add to the reality of the situation or provide insight into a particular individual and his or her relationship with another. All the stories of course involve murders and the procedures that have to be followed to reach a solution. At only 49 minutes each, the episodes move along very quickly. The feeling of urgency is heightened by an emphasis on hand-held camera work, quick cutting, and the frequent use of close-ups. Here's where some viewers, used to more leisurely British police procedurals with attention to character background and interaction, may find Murder Investigation Team wanting. We find out little of the various team members' backgrounds, there being only occasional hints of what may be going on in their off-duty life. The series' rapid-fire nature seems designed to appeal to the attention-deficit inflicted, but the quality of the acting is of such a high caliber and the stories intriguing enough that most viewers will be well-entertained regardless. Samantha Spiro's performance is particularly worth noting. She beings a very intense, steely-eyed look to DI Friend that takes a bit of getting used to, particularly when she's the subject of so many close-ups. The lack of family and past career context accentuates the loner image that comes across despite the character's efforts to engage her team fully. (Interestingly, the DI Friend character is dropped from the second series, with DS Trevor Hands taking over as the team leader.) Acorn Media has released Murder Investigation Team: Series One as a 3-disc DVD set. The 1.78:1 anamorphic images are in pretty reasonable shape. Sharpness and detail are quite good more often than not (particularly on the frequent close-ups), although the limited action scenes seem less well-defined. Colour fidelity is notably good. The DD stereo sound is satisfying. Dialogue is clear and well balanced with sound effects and music. There's virtually no evidence of hiss or distortion. English SDH subtitling is provided. Extras consist of an audio commentary by series creator Paul Marquess on the first episode and a 25-minute interview with actor Michael McKell. Both are worth your time. Recommended.

Dalziel & Pascoe survived for twelve series on BBC over the period from 1996-2007. Based on characters in the books of Reginald Hill, Dalziel (pronounced Dee-el) & Pascoe are a pair of Yorkshire police detectives whose variety of interesting cases are enlivened by the differences in their characters.

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Dalziel (played throughout the BBC series by Warren Clarke) is the old-school, sarcastic, non politically correct and higher-ranking of the two, while Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) is the university-educated and more forward-thinking younger assistant. It's a combination that has become commonplace, particularly in British police shows, but is none the worse for its familiarity. Clarke and Buchanan complement each other, and despite the difference in approach of their characters and the frustration that sometimes results, it's apparent that both enjoy each other's company. Dalziel & Pascoe: Season 3 consists of four 90-minute mysteries. "Under World" centres around the discovery of a body in a deserted mineshaft. The discovery provides the solution to a missing person case of long standing, but raises questions about the nature of the death that throw a small Yorkshire town into turmoil. This is a thoroughly engrossing case with a nice angle about the involvement of Pascoe's wife Ellie (Susannah Corbett) with a local miner upon whom suspicion falls. "Child's Play" finds the duo investigating the death of a long-lost son who turns up at his mother's funeral. The plot is somewhat convoluted, but does lead to a satisfactory resolution. A secondary story line involves continuing character Detective Sergeant Edgar Wield (David Royle) whose sexuality becomes an issue. In "Bones and Silence", the weakest entry of the season, a neighbor of Dalziel's is shot dead and her husband (Michael Kitchen) claims it was suicide. Dalziel is unconvinced and sets out to determine the truth. A secondary subplot concerning a local little theatre group for whom Dalziel is to play God in its upcoming production is more of a distraction than anything else, diminishing the impact of a typically strong performance by Kitchen. "The Wood Beyond" is much the most intriguing episode of the season, effectively blending a back-story from World War I with a modern day investigation into an animal rights group's raid on a pharmaceutical company. Pascoe and his wife's relationship is further developed as the World War I aspect proves to be related to the recent death of Pascoe's grandmother. The Dalziel & Pascoe programmes are typical British police detective fare with the 90-minute length giving plenty of opportunity for story lines and characters to be thoroughly developed. After three seasons, the two main characters have settled comfortably in place and the relationship between the two is one that's realistic and enjoyable to spend time with. Despite some weakness in the third episode, the third season's writing is marginally the strongest yet. BBC Video's release (distributed by Warner Bros.) arrives as a two-DVD set sporting 1.78:1 anamorphic images that look quite strong - clear with good contrast and quite respectable image detail. There are a few soft sequences, but sharpness is otherwise very good. Colour fidelity seems fine. The stereo sound does a presentable job. Dialogue is clear and exhibits a consistent volume level. English SDH subtitling is provided. There are no supplements. Recommended.

Murphy's Law: Series 3 marked a change in the popular British undercover cop series. Rather than the individual stories wrapped up in a single episode that marked the first two series, the 6-episode third season saw a continuous story arc that was only resolved in the final episode.

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Tommy Murphy (James Nesbitt) is an undercover cop whose task this time has London criminal mastermind Dave Callard (Mark Womack) as its target. Developing his bona fides as an arms dealer, a counterfeit money procuror, and a hitman, Murphy cements himself as virtually Callard's right-hand man, much to the displeasure of the incumbent - the psychotic Caz Miller (Michael Fassbender). Murphy has an efficient and creative back-up team headed by Paul Allison (Owen Teale) with the whole operation under the direction of Detective Superintendent Rees (Michael Feast). As Murphy digs deeper, it becomes apparent that Callard's interests extend internationally into the heroin trade with an important British aristocrat also deeply involved. Little that one saw in the first two seasons prepares one for the intensity, grittiness, and graphic nature of series 3. The story arc is a very dark one that immerses Murphy so deeply that he virtually has no life beyond the job - violence, murder, and bleakness is his new reality. And the lack of reward for that new reality is to be found in a sub-plot that finds Murphy testifying at the trial of a man he arrested in a previous undercover operation - to no avail, the man is acquitted. The cast is pretty much uniformly superb in the third season, but it is James Nesbitt's intense and absorbing characterization that mesmerizes throughout. Murphy's endeavors are physically challenging and emotionally exhausting, and Nesbitt's work makes the viewer experience every aspect of them right along with the character. Two further series of Murphy's Law with similar season-long story arcs were made and Series 3 whets the appetite for them mightily. Acorn Media's DVD release delivers the episodes in very satisfying 1.78:1 anamorphic transfers. Image sharpness and detail is impressive and colour fidelity is very good. The stereo sound provides clear dialogue throughout with very good volume modulation. English SDH subtitling is provided. The only supplement is a text biography for James Nesbitt. Highly recommended.

The long-running British TV series Upstairs Downstairs was event television when it was shown in North America in the 1970s. Lasting for five seasons (series) and some 68 episodes, it had numerous BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominations and awards.

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The series has long been available on DVD both as individual seasons and a complete set (from A&E), but now Acorn Media has reissued it in a 40th Anniversary Edition. I received Series One for review, but the entire run is also available in a box set. The program was conceived by Jean Marsh in 1969 and produced by London Weekend Television for ITV. It didn't actually debut on TV until two years later due to ITV management issues and a technicians' strike that resulted in the first half of the season being shot in B&W (episode one would later be reshot in colour to improve foreign market sales possibilities). As the title suggests, the program focuses on personalities at 165 Eaton Place in London's upscale Belgravia neighborhood - both those upstairs (the owners - the wealthy aristocratic Bellamys) and those downstairs (the servants - particularly Hudson the butler [Gordon Jackson], Mrs. Bridges the cook [Angela Baddeley], and Rose the parlour maid [Jean Marsh]). The story spans almost 30 years and the time period with its social change, political upheaval, and particularly the horrors of World War I is expertly woven into the episodes, providing some excellent historical context for the always-entertaining relationships between the two classes. Series One focuses on the 1903-1909 segment. It's been almost 40 years since I myself saw these episodes and time has not dulled their pleasures. The program is filled with well-modulated performances, realistic character interactions, and fascinating detail about the times and mores that remains of interest because of the even greater contrast in life styles that exists between the first decade of the last century and now compared to that between then and even the 1970s. Acorn's release of Upstairs Downstairs: 40th Anniversary Edition - Series One offers a much improved image compared to the previous A&E release for which I have a copy. Colour fidelity is improved, but most importantly the image is sharper and better detailed with the previous murky dark scenes much better defined. The B&W episodes are similarly improved with a noticeably fine grey scale evident. There's still some video noise apparent on occasion, but it's impact on one's viewing pleasure is minimal. The mono sound is also better though the improvement (mainly in the area of some muffled dialogue) is not as substantial as for the image. Dialogue overall is now clear and consistent in volume. A substantial addition is English SDH subtitling. The supplements on this first series are substantial. We get an alternate colour version of episode one with a somewhat different ending (intended to bridge it directly to the later colour episodes for markets that did not want to air the intervening B&W episodes) and the first part (56 minutes) of a very lengthy 2006 making-of documentary (the other parts will accompany the succeeding series when they are released individually, but of course are available now if you get the box set of the entire program run). Even better is a suite of six audio commentaries (on episodes 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13) featuring a range of series actors and writers. There's some great interplay between the various participants resulting in some very entertaining and informative commentaries. All these supplements are new to North American audiences, though some of them have been previously available in Britain via the Network releases there. Highly recommended.

Midsomer Murders has been airing on ITV since 1997 and through 2010 starred John Nettles as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, it focuses on murders that occur in English villages in the fictional county of Midsomer (patterned after the areas of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire). There have so far been 13 series (seasons) featuring Nettles. He retired from the role at the end of 2010 after 81 episodes and 2 Christmas specials, and has been replaced by Neil Dudgeon playing Barnaby's cousin for the 14th series (which began airing on ITV in March of this year). Acorn's Midsomer Murders: Set 17 contains the first four episodes of series 12 which originally aired in 2009 (episodes 67-70). In addition to the comfortable pleasures of John Nettles, these episodes feature Jason Hughes as Barnaby's efficient and at times insightful young assistant Detective Sergeant Ben Jones (as they have since episode 44 in 2005). The episodes in Set 17 include "The Dogleg Murders" (the 13th hole of upper class bastion Whiteoaks Golf Club is a dangerous spot - dead bodies keep turning up there); "The Black Book" (a local art auction is a catalyst for a string of savage murders); "Secrets and Spies" (killings, apparently by a mysterious beast, seem related to MI-6 concerns while Barnaby is diverted by a cricket match); and "The Glitch" (a local scientist's determination to stop an American millionaire's latest business venture leads to murder). The stories are all engrossing, maintaining a consistently high level of entertainment. The usual blend of mystery with the occasional familial interactions between Barnaby and his wife Joyce is maintained throughout. The mystery aspects themselves are well scripted, with the culprits nicely camouflaged for the most part. Acorn's DVD release, on four discs, is also consistent with previous releases. The 1.78:1 anamorphic transfers are very good indeed, offering clean, sharp images with notably fine detail. Colour fidelity is impressive. The stereo sound is of a high standard too, with clear dialogue free of any hiss or distortion. Very mild directionality is apparent while volume levels are consistent throughout. English SDH subtitling is provided. The supplements consist of text-based interviews and production notes. Highly recommended.

Single-Handed: Set 1 is the real deal. Set on the windswept west coast of Ireland, it focuses on Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll (Owen McDonnell) who has returned to his childhood home to take over as the chief law-enforcement officer from his father (Ian McElhinney) who has just retired.

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Coming from Dublin, Jack faces unique challenges including winning the confidence of the rural inhabitants and escaping the shadow of his father's influence. The latter is particularly difficult given his father's pragmatic rather than strictly principled approach to the job. It soon becomes apparent that though retired, his father's role and influence in local affairs remains great. With this background, Jack gets involved in three investigations (each originally aired as two-part, feature-length [approximately 93 minutes] programs): the murder of a beautiful immigrant, the abduction of a child, and the strange drowning of a teenager. The wild, windswept and coldly beautiful landscape provides a perfect counterpoint to these dramas. The characters in each seem rooted in reality and all are well portrayed, but the stories' real strength is in the writing. The situations are complex from a strictly police investigation point of view, but equally as important from that of their moral underpinnings. The aspects of Jack's personal relationships (both family and otherwise) that are gradually revealed in the course of his work - sometimes as crucial aspects of the resolutions of the cases - are every bit as compelling as the crimes' solutions themselves. The work of Owen McDonnell, Ian McElhinney, and Ruth McCabe (as Jack's mother) is all particularly noteworthy, but the supporting casts are also well chosen throughout. Acorn Media's release is a set giving a separate disc to each of the three feature-length programs. The 1.78:1 anamorphic transfers are excellent, sporting crisp, beautifully-detailed images that are equally good whether interiors or outside featuring the photogenic, rugged beauty of the west Ireland countryside. Black levels are impressive and contrast is very well realized. The stereo sound is also strong, conveying dialogue clearly while the background score when present has some heft to it. English SDH subtitling is provided. The only supplements are text-based - an interview with the producer and production notes. Highly recommended.

Fresh Fields: Set 1 doesn't feel that fresh at all. This is British sitcom at a rather mundane level - high on the laugh track, moderate on innuendo, and somewhat low on inventiveness.

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Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers play a suburban couple named Hester and William Fields. William is a staid, long-suffering accountant whose wife Hester is ready for new challenges after 20 years of marriage and raising two children. Naturally, Hester's dalliances seem to irritate William and frequently rope him into trouble. For North American audiences, the British sensibilities will distinguish the series from domestic fare, but there is a notable similarity to basic plot situations. McKenzie and Rodgers are a generally likable couple together, but none of the other regular characters, including annoying, free-loading neighbor Sonia played by Ann Beach, really stick in the mind. There were four seasons comprising 27 half-hour shows originally aired on ITV during 1984-86. Fresh Fields: Set 1 includes the first two seasons totaling 12 episodes. The show is at best an amiable time-passer with a suggested serving of no more than two episodes at a sitting. Acorn presents Set 1 as a two-disc package. The full frame images are passable, looking a little bit soft and even smeary at times. Colours overall appear tired, and deep blacks and clean whites are seldom to be found. Overall the look is typical of DVDs of British TV fare of almost 30 years ago. The mono sound is not bad. Dialogue is clear enough though hiss and crackle are evident at times. English SDH subtitling is provided. There are no supplements. Suggested as a rental at best.

A much better bet is Is It Legal?: The Complete Third Series - a simple unpretentious sitcom done with verve and featuring a cast that really seems to be enjoying itself.

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I previously reviewed the program's second series which contains the best work of the show's three-series life in the 1995-98 period. As you may remember from that review, Is It Legal? follows the work of the small staff at a Hounslow, west London law firm, with the term "work" being used advisedly. For this final series, all the cast members return except for Jeremy Clyde who played the firm's senior partner, a man who seemed to spend most of his time schmoozing and honing his golf game. That's an important loss because the episodes now tend to focus entirely on either the exasperation of partner Stella (Imelda Staunton) or the insecurity of office manager Bob (Patrick Barlow). Both Staunton and Barlow are great in their roles, but the balance that Clyde provided is missed somewhat. The other regulars returning include the outrageously inept, accident-prone, freshly minted lawyer, Colin (Richard Lumsden), secretary Alison (Kate Isitt) who looks a knockout but has no apparent office skills whatsoever, and dozy office boy Darren (Matthew Ashforde). As in the previous two series, the office happenings are again mainly absurd, but there's a somewhat greater leaning towards sexual innuendo in them. Some of the third series' plots involve a relationship between Stella and Bob, the further misadventures of Colin in the office and at home, a new staff member and the appearance of Bob's old flame, and the discovery of a 19-year old secret. Great, nicely-observed fun with repeat viewing potential. Network's Region 2 release (requires an all-region DVD player for viewers in North America) is delivered as a two-disc set that maintains the quality level of the previous series DVD release. The episodes are presented full frame as originally aired and look very nice. The image is sharp and colour fidelity and brightness is strong. The transfers are very clean. The mono sound is in good shape. There are no subtitles and no supplements. Recommended.

Another Region 2 offering that's worth your attention is Network's release of The Governor: The Complete First Series. The Governor is a drama series written and produced by Lynda La Plante (Prime Suspect) that focuses on Helen Hewitt (Janet McTeer), the youngest woman appointed governor (or chief warden) of an all-male maximum security facility.

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The facility (Barfield Prison) has just been partially destroyed by a prisoner riot that also involved an inmate's murder. Helen undertakes the task despite some misgivings that she is just a caretaker while the prison rebuilding proceeds. As one might expect, earning the respect of her suspicious and at times antagonistic force of prison guards is a significant issue, particularly since the heir apparent for the job was passed over in order to appoint Helen. Other issues develop from the volatile and varied prison population itself as she gradually tries to determine the most effective type of regime under which to administer the facility. There are six episodes in the first series, with a connecting story line. Issues such as mental illness, prisoner hierarchy, intimidation of inmates by the prison staff as well as other inmates, and the politics of prison administration are all grist for the mill in what as a whole is a compelling suite of programs. Much hinges on Janet McTeer as Helen, and she is for the most part very effective in the role. She conveys strength sufficiently enough to be believable, although one wonders if a similar real-life situation might not present more difficulties than those portrayed in The Governor (at least in relation to staff resistance). The series has a strong supporting cast with many characters persisting through several episodes. Network's Region 2 release (requires an all-region DVD player for viewers in North America) is delivered on two discs with three episodes on each. The image is presented with an aspect ratio of approximately 1.56:1 (14:9), typical of British TV fare from the 1990s and a compromise between 1.33:1 and 1.78:1 as television companies were trying to introduce the widescreen concept. It is letterboxed and not anamorphically enhanced. Despite that, the image looks quite good. Sharpness and image detail are fine except for a few night-time scenes. Colours are muted, presumably reflecting how the show was originally aired. The mono sound is in good shape. There are no subtitles and no supplements. Recommended. (I expect we will see the second series also come out from Network, but it's not on this year's schedule at present. Both series have been available previously from a different source on Region 2 DVD.)

Current and Upcoming Releases in Region 1

New additions since the last edition of the column are highlighted in yellow.

Murder Investigation Team: Series 1. The hit, realistic procedural crime drama in the vein of CSI reveals the gritty reality of police work. Broadcast on A&E in the U.S. and on ITV in the U.K. (2003), the suspenseful series follows a squad of elite detectives as they investigate horrific crimes in metropolitan London. Meticulously crafted to reflect real-life investigations, each episode brims with twists and tension. From the makers of popular, long-running series, The Bill, the series stars a strong ensemble cast. The DVD set has 3 discs; 8 episodes. From Acorn Media, March 1

Napoleon & Love. The romantic exploits of Napoleon Bonaparte (Ian Holm) as he conquers Europe's battlefields and bedrooms. Ian Holm (The Lord of the Rings) leads an illustrious cast in a romantic drama about Napoleon's many loves. Broadcast on A&E and PBS, this sumptuous costume drama follows the. The DVD set has 3-discs with 9 episodes. From Acorn Media, March 1

The Norman Conquests. Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious Emmy-nominated trilogy seen on plays by Alan Ayckbourn and broadcast in the late 1970s as part of PBS' Great Performance PBS. This uproarious study in family dysfunction is told from three angles. Based on the celebrated series, the release follows 2009's hit Broadway revival that garnered the adaptation Tony Award® recognition. The DVD 3-Disc Set features three full-length dramas with pitch-perfect performances by Richard Briers (Good Neighbors), Penelope Keith (To the Manor Born), Penelope Wilton (Match Point), David Troughton (Fingersmith), and Oscar nominee Tom Conti (Shirley Valentine) in a tale of love, lust, and confusion seen from three sides. From Acorn Media, March 1

Dahlziel and Pascoe: Season 3. Four 90-minute episodes on 2 discs: Under World, Child's Play, Bones and Silence, and The Wood Beyond. From BBC via Warner Home Video, March 8

Alan Bennett Collection featuring An Englishman Abroad, The. Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Madness of King George) is one of Britain's most popular and prolific playwrights. Following his runaway success with Beyond the Fringe in the Sixties, he began writing for the stage, but soon found that his work transferred easily and effectively to the small screen. This collection, spanning over twenty years from 1972 to 1994, showcases Bennett's observant eye for the absurdities of modern life and his sharp ear for dialogue. The BAFTA-winning An Englishman Abroad was inspired by Coral Browne's real-life encounter with an eccentric Englishman in Moscow. None other than the notorious spy Guy Burgess (Alan Bates), he sends the actress on a rather counterrevolutionary mission. Also includes: The Insurance Man (with Daniel Day Lewis as Franz Kafka), A Question of Attribution (with Prunella Scales as Queen Elizabeth II and James Fox as Sir Anthony Blunt), 102 Boulevard Haussman (with Alan Bates and Janet McTeer) plus early plays A Day Out and Sunset Across the Bay (directed by Stephan Frears) and Our Winnie. Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances) stars in A Visit from Miss Prothero and A Woman of No Importance. Two film essays, Dinner at Noon and Portrait or Bust, reveal Alan Bennett's unique onscreen presence. Four discs. From BBC via Warner Home Video, March 29

Upstairs Downstairs Complete Series: 40th Anniversary Edition. Featuring more than 25 hours of never-before-seen extras and collectible packaging, the 21-disc collection arrives on DVD two weeks before the PBS premiere of the new BBC revival of the series. From Acorn Media, March 29 (Separate release of Season 1 only also available)

Diana Dors Comedy Double Feature: An Alligator Named Daisy (1957) and Value for Money (1955), From VCI, April 5

Lark Rise to Candleford - The Complete Collection. A 14-DVD set with a running time of 1892 minutes. From BBC via Warner Home Video, April 5.

Lark Rise to Candleford: The Complete Season 4. A 2-DVD set. From BBC via Warner Home Video, April 5

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1988 and 1989. A 2-DVD package. From BBC via Warner Home Video, April 12

Kes (1969, directed by Ken Loach). Supplements will include: Making Kes - a new documentary featuring Loach, Menges, producer Tony Garnett, and actor David Bradley; The Southbank Show: Ken Loach (1993), a profile of the filmmaker, featuring Loach, Garnett, directors Stephen Frears and Alan Parker, and other Loach collaborators; Cathy Come Home (1967), a feature directed by Loach and produced by Garnett, with an introduction by film writer Graham Fuller; the original theatrical trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by Fuller. From Criterion, on either DVD or Blu-ray, April 19

Lorna Doone. Clive Owen (Children of Men, Closer, Inside Man, Gosford Park, Chancer), Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome, State of Play, Patriot Games), and Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings, GoldenEye, Sharpe) star in a sumptuous adaptation of the classic novel; R.D. Blackmore's beloved tale of forbidden love in lawless 17th-century England, celebrated since its publication in 1869. A classic story of romance, revenge, and adventure makes its North American home video debut. Lavish costumes, dazzling scenery, and a stellar supporting cast round out this splendid adaptation of one of the greatest love stories ever told. The British drama aired in the U.K. in 1990 and is one of Clive Owen's and Polly Walker's earliest roles. From Acorn Media, April 19

A Mind to Kill, Series 3. Final series of the gritty, character-driven Welsh detective drama. Acclaimed actor Philip Madoc (The Last of the Mohicans, Doctor Who, The Avengers) returns to the dark police drama as DCI Noel Bain, a worldly detective who uses insight and intelligence to solve monstrous crimes. Aired widely in U.K in the mid 1990s in both English and Welch. Eight feature-length mysteries on 3 discs. From Acorn Media, April 19

Doc Martin Collection: Series 1-4. Bestselling British comedic drama airing on PBS stations. Akin to House and Northern Exposure, BAFTA winner Martin Clunes (Men Behaving Badly, Shakespeare in Love, Dirty Tricks, Reggie Perrin) stars as a surly, tactless, self-centered, and uptight doctor-but he's the only doctor in town. Doc Martin is a huge hit in the U.K. with 9 million viewers and a fifth series commissioned. This value-priced 9-disc collection includes all 30 endearing and off-beat episodes from the first four series. From Acorn Media, April 26

Demob. Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) leads an ensemble cast in a light-hearted WWII-era comedy drama seen on public television. After spending four years entertaining the troops with raunchy stage routines, a pair of soldiers take their act back home-to sometimes disastrous, but always hilarious results. Broadcast on ITV in 1993, Demob paints a nostalgic portrait of post-war Britain with realistic period details, costumes, and comic appeal. The series co-stars Amanda Redman (New Tricks), Simon Williams (Upstairs, Downstairs), Samantha Janus (Pie in the Sky), James Faulkner (The Bank Job), and comic great Les Dawson in his final role (6 episodes). From Acorn Media, April 26

Romeo and Juliet (1954, Laurence Harvey) on both DVD and Blu-ray. From VCI April 26.

Identity. A slick, high-tech crime procedural in the vein of CSI. ABC is currently making an American remake with Angela Bassett (ER). Keeley Hawes (Ashes to Ashes, MI-5) and Aidan Gillen (The Wire) star in this ITV production about an elite police team charged with investigating the high-stakes world of identity theft. Realistic plots and intelligent writing offers a riveting glimpse into one of the 21st century's most ubiquitous crimes (6 episodes). From Acorn Media, May 3

Sea of Sand (1958, Richard Attenborough). From VCI, May 3

Simon and Laura (1955, Peter Finch). From VCI, May 3

To Paris with Love (1955, Alec Guinness). From VCI, May 3

Upstairs and Downstairs (1959, Michael Craig). From VCI, May 3

Way to the Stars, The (1945, John Mills). From VCI, May 3

39 Steps, The (1959, Kenneth More). From VCI, May 17

We Dive at Dawn (1943, John Mills). From VCI, May 17

Bob Hoskins Collection: The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, Raggedy Rawney, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne. 4 DVDs. From Image Entertainment, June 7

Michael Palin Collection: Time Bandits, A Private Function and The Missionary. 3 DVDs. From Image Entertainment, June 7